Press Council rules against News.com.au ‘how to pick a paedophile’ article

March 7, 2014 4:19

Media watchdog The Australian Press Council (APC) has ruled an article published on News.com.au last September entitled “Could you spot a paedophile? Here’s a guide on how to pick a child molester” misrepresented facts and breached principles requiring publications to balance the public interest with the sensitivities of readers.

The article, by journalist Candace Sutton, presented nine categories of sex offenders, with information about each and photographs of well-known offenders.

The APC found it was a breach of its rules with one section called “the damaged”, which alleged paedophiles are often the victims of child molestation themselves, was “deeply offensive and served to marginalise victims of child sex abuse and discourage them from speaking out”.

The APC found “the level of offence (caused by the article) would not only be very high, but it would be widespread throughout the community”. At the time it was published there was much online commentary about the article and News.com.au later published a response from Dr Cathy Kezelman, president of Adults Surviving Child Abuse.

Be a member to keep reading

Join Mumbrella Pro to access the Mumbrella archive and read our premium analysis of everything under the media and marketing umbrella.

Become a member

Nic Christensen

Nic Christensen worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2016, in roles including deputy editor and media & technology editor. He is former media writer for The Australian and has also worked as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph and senior producer for Radio 2GB.

Topics